SÓLSTAFIR are
different. Their unique blend of metal with beautiful melodies, psychedelic
moments and a strong undercurrent of classic / hard rock comes as varied and at
times appealingly bizarre as the landscapes of their native Iceland. Their
fifth full-length "Ótta" is the logical continuation of the musical
course this four-piece adopted on the highly acclaimed forerunner "Svartir
Sandar" (2011). Expect the unexpected, such as seduction by subtle strings
or a hypnotic banjo. None of this was apparent when SÓLSTAFIR released their album debut "Í Blóði og Anda",
which translates as 'In Blood and Spirit' in 2002. Instead of today's Icelandic
gravel throated siren chants, frontman Aðalbjörn Tryggvason spit forth
vitriolic crust-like vocals and the ripping guitars were clearly black metal
inspired. Yet the band was as clearly identifiable back then as now and along
their way with the next albums "Masterpiece of Bitterness" (2005) and
"Köld" (2009) introducing new elements in a continuous evolution. SÓLSTAFIR's music is as much the
product of Arctic blizzards as of red hot volcanic magma, erupting geysers,
lush green pastures, and salty waves. With "Ótta" the Icelanders
touch something ancient and timeless, while defying easy categorisation. This
album needs to be heard again and again, to peel back layers of details, each different
and yet always revealing the same: great songs – all of them. The song titles
of "Ótta" form a concept based on an old Icelandic system of time
keeping similar to the monastic hours called "Eykt"
("eight"). The 24 hour day was divided into 8 parts of 3 hours each.
The album starts at midnight, the beginning of "Lágnætti" ("low
night"), continues through each Eyktir of the day and ends with
"Náttmál" ("night time") from 21:00 to 0:00. This form of
time keeping is more open than the relentless ticking of modern times, where
each second is made to count, which turns humanity into cocks of the corporate
clockwork. Now SÓLSTAFIR give
you the antidote. Just lean back, close your eyes, take your time and lose
yourself in this masterpiece called "Ótta"!

Forming
in Iceland
in 1995, Solstafir are ostensibly a black metal band and having travelled so
far musically, the first decade feels more like a gestation period than genuine
expression. Their latest album, ‘Ótta’ released this month through Season of
Mist, is their fifth full length and follows releases such as the incredible
‘Masterpiece of Bitterness’ (2005) and the unsurpassable ‘Köld’ (2009).

Solstafir
are going from strength to strength, commercially if not necessarily
artistically and are set to play the venerable Damnation and Roadburn
festivals. On this, their latest release Solstafir are developing on the
blueprint solidified on their previous album ‘Svartir Sandar’ (2011), a
fearless double LP that saw Solstafir exploring more ambient focused
territories.

While
the band always defined themselves through their emotiveness and chilled
atmosphere, on previous releases this was always channelled through a muscular
abrasiveness fitting of their black metal roots. On 'Ótta', however, most
traces of that heaviness have been replaced with a bed of tranquillity and
introspection. This is a shame, because it was always the raging passion with
which the band played, that took them to the heights that 'Köld' saw them
reach.

Ótta
sees guitar leads hum where before they screamed, buried drums whisper instead
of pound, and piano takes the place of what would have been plaintive guitars.
Even the track ‘Til Valhallar’, the only track that attempts to sound metal, is
lacklustre and suggests this is a band that not only no longer want to write
such songs, but perhaps now can’t. Vocals
are a highlight of any of Solstafir’s more recent recordings, with Aðalbjörn
"Addi" Tryggvason’ being one of the most understated yet perfectly fitting
vocalists in metal today, his voice fitting the music like some sort of
post-black metal glove. The singing is raw and masculine yet with an audible
vulnerability, and even his harsh vocals have a shamelessly human quality to
them that most extreme metal tries to hide.

Taken
as a whole, to others this may sound like a band maturing, yet to me sounds
more like a band getting old. Along with this year’s release from The Atlas
Moth, 'Ótta' is an album that did not match my high expectations for a band
with such obvious talent. Much like ‘War of the Roses’ was to Ulver, ‘Ótta’
sounds like a Solstafir without teeth. Conversely,
I would never want nor expect a band like Solstafir to make Köld Part Two.

They
are clearly taking their unique brand of metal in a direction where their
passions now lie, indeed their decision to write entirely in Icelandic (which,
incidentally, sounds beautiful), being evidence of their sincerity and love of
their art. The album is far from being without its merits too, and delicately
rewards multiple listens.

Listen
to Ótta, it will be the most subtly distinctive album you hear this month, if
not necessarily the best.

Band Submissions

To those bands who have recently issued their first demo or album via bandcamp and would like to be featured on our 666 Pack Review or considered for a full review or stream please contact Aaron via email including your EPK, band bio, album file or download code, including artwork.

To those bands issuing their sophomore record and so on and would like to be considered for a review or stream on the blog. Get in touch using the same address above

We will consider bands from any genre but exclusively stoner, sludge, doom, psych, post-metal, experimental, black-metal etc. (Whilst I would like to respond to every email, this is not always possible.) Thanks